Radiation Oncology Associates of New Jersey - Doctors James Wong, M.D., Yana Pavel Goldberg, M.D., and Mona Karim, M.D. make up the dynamic physician team at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital. These top physicians are experts at treating all types of cancers including Prostate, Breast, Lung, Liver, Pancreas, Esophagus, Brain, Head & Neck, Rectal, Gynecological, Sarcomas, Seminomas, and recurrent cancers with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), 3-D conformal, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Brachytherapy, Mammosite, and Stereotactic techniques. Our radiation oncology department is renowned as one of the most progressive and prestigious cancer treatment centers in the tri-state area.

BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT

Among our specialized treatments are new methods for delivering radiation deep inside the body (Brachytherapy). The precise dosage and location of radiation is automatically delivered through an applicator, which is positioned inside the body, in close proximity to the tumor. Brachytherapy treatment can be given in different ways.

HIGH DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY

A device or catheters will be implanted into or close to the tumor. The radioactive source is then placed inside a catheter for a short duration of time. The amount of time that the source stays inside the patient is depends on how much of a dosage needs to be delivered. Typically, each treatment takes between 5 and 25 minutes and can be administered as either an outpatient or inpatient procedure. This treatment method can be used for a variety of different cancers, including lung, esophageal, gynecological, prostate and sarcoma. We have had many successful outcomes using this procedure on previously treated recurrent cancers.

LOW DOSE RATE BRACHYTHERAPY

The applicator is placed close to the tumor for a longer duration of time. Radiation is slowly released into the tumor. This includes permanent seed implantation that delivers tiny radioactive seeds into the tumor. It also includes iridium ribbons (Ir192) and cesium (Cs137) implants that deliver high doses of radiation to the cancer while minimizing the dosage to adjacent organs. This treatment method is provided primarily on an inpatient basis.

These procedures give physicians and patients the significant advantage of application of a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor. At the same time, by using advanced computer calculations healthy tissue and surrounding organs are spared. Advances in computer technology have enabled us to apply brachytherapy to difficult clinical cases that were previously considered untreatable.